Zlatan Ibrahimović, a retired Swedish footballer, is renowned for his skills, dominance, and numerous achievements. With over 570 career goals, he played for top clubs like Barcelona, Milan, PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy.
At the age of nine, Ibrahimović was sent to live with his father due to family circumstances, including his mother's arrest and his half-sister's drug problem.
The player made his debut for the Sweden National Team.
In 1977, Šefik Ibrahimović, Zlatan's father, immigrated to Sweden from Bosnia as a Muslim Bosniak.
The period from October 3, 1981 to February 14, 2018 represents the life of Zlatan Ibrahimović, a highly skilled football player.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on October 8, 1981 in Malmö, Sweden.
Zlatan Ibrahimović studied at Malmö Borgarskola, a school in his neighborhood.
Ibrahimović faced a challenging upbringing marked by family issues, including his mother's arrest, social services intervention, and struggles with poverty and hunger.
Zlatan Ibrahimović made his début in the Allsvenskan League on September 19, 1999.
Zlatan Ibrahimović made his debut with the National Selection of Sweden on January 31, 2001, in a match against the selection of the Faroe Islands. He went on to represent Sweden in 116 matches and scored 62 goals.
On 7 October 2001, Ibrahimović scored his first international goal for Sweden in a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was recognized as the Swedish Football Personality of the Year in 2002.
In May 2003, the name 'Zlatan' was trademarked at the Swedish Patent and Registration Office, granting exclusive rights to Zlatan Ibrahimović for certain products like sporting goods, clothing, and shoes.
On 14 June 2004, Ibrahimović assisted a goal and scored from a penalty in Sweden's opening match against Bulgaria in UEFA Euro 2004.
On 18 June 2004, Ibrahimović scored an 85th-minute back-heel lob goal against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004, which was later named the best goal of the tournament.
On 22 August 2004, Ibrahimović scored a remarkable goal against NAC Breda, a goal that was later voted as the Goal of the Year by Eurosport viewers.
After achieving success in the Dutch League, Zlatan Ibrahimović was transferred to Juventus of Turin on August 31, 2004, for a fee of 19 million euros.
On 4 September 2004, Ibrahimović scored four goals in a World Cup qualification match against Malta.
In November 2005, Ibrahimović was awarded the Guldbollen, recognizing him as the best Swedish footballer of the year.
Zlatan Ibrahimović signed a contract with Inter of Milan on August 10, 2006, for a transfer fee of 24.8 million euros and an annual salary of 12 million euros for four years.
Ibrahimović, along with teammates Wilhelmsson and Mellberg, violated team curfew by visiting a nightclub two days before a Euro 2008 qualifier against Liechtenstein. Despite not consuming alcohol, they were sent home by the manager as punishment and did not participate in the match.
Zlatan Ibrahimović's first son, Maximilian Ibrahimovic, was born on September 22, 2006.
Ibrahimović refused to take part in Sweden's qualifiers against Iceland and Spain, as well as a friendly against Egypt, in protest against being sent home for violating team curfew. He later ended his self-imposed boycott and returned for a match against Northern Ireland.
Zlatan Ibrahimović's second son, Vicent Ibrahimović, was born on March 6, 2008.
Zlatan Ibrahimović scored both goals in a 2–0 victory against Parma on the final day of the 2007–08 Serie A season, securing Inter Milan's second consecutive Scudetto. He was named Serie A Footballer of the Year and Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year.
After over two years without scoring for Sweden, Ibrahimović ended his goal drought with a goal in a 2–0 win against Greece in Sweden's Euro 2008 opener. He was named Man of the Match and also scored in the next match against Spain.
Ibrahimović scored a sensational backheeled shot goal during the match against Bologna, which was later voted as the Goal of the Year in Serie A.
Ibrahimović continued his solid performances by scoring twice in a 4–0 win at Roma, bringing his total league goals to five.
Ibrahimović scored a goal in a 4–0 win against Malta in a 2010 World Cup qualifier. He continued his scoring form with a last-second goal against Hungary in a 2–1 win, although Sweden ultimately failed to qualify for the tournament.
Negotiations between Barcelona and Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimović's transfer were confirmed on July 23, 2009, involving a swap deal with Samuel Eto'o.
Ibrahimović transferred to Barcelona from Inter in exchange for Samuel Eto'o, with a reported fee of £40 million. He signed a five-year contract with Barcelona.
Zlatan Ibrahimović signed with FC Barcelona on July 27, 2009, for a record-breaking transfer fee of 46 million euros plus the transfer of Samuel Eto'o from FC Barcelona to Inter of Milan, totaling 71 million euros. This signing marked the most expensive in the history of FC Barcelona at that time.
On 23 August 2009, Ibrahimović made his competitive debut for Barcelona by assisting a Lionel Messi goal, leading them to victory in the Supercopa de España.
Barcelona won the 2009 UEFA Super Cup with a 1–0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
On 20 October 2009, Ibrahimović scored his first Champions League goal for Barcelona in a match against Rubin Kazan.
Barcelona capped off 2009 by winning the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup against Estudiantes on 19 December 2009.
Ibrahimović scored Barcelona's only goal in the 2009–10 Copa del Rey first leg match against Sevilla on 5 January 2010.
On 20 January 2010, Ibrahimović was selected in the 2009 UEFA Team of the Year.
Ibrahimović scored his first goal of 2010 on 14 February against Atlético Madrid.
On 6 March 2010, Ibrahimović was sent off in a league match against Almería and was suspended for one game.
Ibrahimović made his return as a substitute in the 82nd minute in a 0–0 away draw against Espanyol on 17 April 2010.
Ibrahimović scored his final goal for Barcelona in a 3–1 defeat against Sevilla in the Supercopa de España.
Ibrahimović played his last match for Barcelona against Milan for the Joan Gamper Trophy, after which he mentioned that his relationship with Guardiola had deteriorated.
On August 28, 2010, Zlatan Ibrahimović was transferred to AC Milan from Barcelona due to a strained relationship with Guardiola. AC Milan agreed to pay his salary for a season and promised to pay Barcelona 24 million euros for his permanent transfer.
Ibrahimović made his debut for AC Milan in a 2–0 loss to Cesena, where he missed a penalty late in the match.
Ibrahimović scored his first goals for AC Milan in their first Champions League match of the season against Auxerre.
Ibrahimović scored in a 1–0 victory against his former club Inter in the Derby della Madonnina.
Ibrahimović scored his seventh goal against Fiorentina with an over-the-head bicycle kick, becoming the team's top goalscorer for the season.
Ibrahimović assisted Kevin-Prince Boateng and scored a powerful shot near the edge of the penalty box in a 3–0 win against Brescia.
Ibrahimović assisted Boateng and scored in a match against Bologna, leading him to 13 goals with 8 assists in 21 matches in all competitions.
On July 17, 2012, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the acquisition of Ibrahimović from Milan for €20 million, making him the second highest-paid footballer in the world at the time.
On September 18, 2012, Ibrahimović scored his sixth goal for PSG in the Champions League, becoming the first player to score for six different clubs in the UEFA Champions League.
On October 8, 2012, Ibrahimović scored both goals for PSG in the Ligue 1 Classique derby against Marseille, showcasing his skills with a backheel goal and a free kick goal.
Zlatan Ibrahimović suffered an ankle/foot injury on November 8, 2012.
On 14 November 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimović scored all four goals in a 4–2 win over England, with his fourth goal being a 35-yard overhead kick that received high praise from players and pundits. This goal later won him the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year and is considered one of the best goals of all time.
On December 11, 2012, Ibrahimović scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 victory against Valenciennes, demonstrating his goal-scoring prowess for Paris Saint-Germain.
Zlatan Ibrahimović faced suspension on January 21, 2013.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended on April 8, 2013.
On 20 May 2013, Zlatan Ibrahimović was honored as the Ligue 1 Player of the Year by the Union nationale des footballeurs professionnels (UNFP). This recognition highlighted his exceptional performance throughout the season.
On 14 August 2013, Ibrahimović scored a hat-trick against Norway, helping Sweden secure a 4–2 friendly win. This match showcased Ibrahimović's scoring prowess as he ended Sweden's qualifying campaign with eight goals.
On 31 August 2013, Ibrahimović netted his first goal of the 2013-14 season in stoppage time, helping PSG secure a 2–0 victory over Guingamp. This goal marked the beginning of another successful season for the striker.
On 24 September 2013, it was announced that Zlatan Ibrahimović had extended his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, committing to stay at the club until 2016. This decision solidified his continued presence and contribution to the team.
On 2 October 2013, Ibrahimović showcased his scoring prowess by netting two goals as PSG defeated Benfica 3–0 in a Champions League group stage match. His performance was instrumental in securing the victory for his team.
Four days later on 23 October 2013, Ibrahimović delivered a remarkable performance by scoring four goals in PSG's 5–0 away triumph over RSC Anderlecht in the Champions League. His exceptional display included a memorable hat-trick and a bending 30-yard half-volley.
Zlatan Ibrahimović faced suspension on October 30, 2013.
Zlatan Ibrahimović sustained a knee injury on December 17, 2013.
On 16 March 2014, Zlatan Ibrahimović made history by surpassing Carlos Bianchi's club record of 39 goals in a season with PSG. His remarkable goal-scoring feat solidified his legacy at the club.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended on April 3, 2014.
On 11 May 2014, Ibrahimović was once again recognized as the Ligue 1 Player of the Year for his outstanding performances throughout the season. This accolade highlighted his consistent excellence in French football.
On 2 August 2014, Ibrahimović scored his first two goals for Paris Saint Germain against Guingamp in the 2014 Trophée des Champions, marking his first silverware of the season.
On 11 August 2014, Zlatan Ibrahimović paid US $51,000 to send the Swedish national football team for the intellectually disabled to the INAS World Football Championships in Brazil, showing his support for a charitable cause.
Zlatan Ibrahimović suffered a thigh injury on August 17, 2014.
On 31 August 2014, Ibrahimović scored his first league hat-trick of the season in a match against Saint-Étienne.
On 4 September 2014, Ibrahimović scored his 50th international goal in a friendly match victory over Estonia, becoming the Swedish national team's all-time leading goalscorer. This achievement solidified his status as one of Sweden's greatest footballers.
Zlatan Ibrahimović experienced an abdominal strain on September 23, 2014.
On 13 January 2015, Ibrahimović scored the only goal in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue to win away at Saint-Étienne, amidst controversy over the goal.
During a league match against Caen on 14 February 2015, Zlatan Ibrahimović took off his shirt after scoring a goal to reveal removable tattooed names of 50 people suffering from hunger worldwide, aiming to raise awareness for famine in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme.
Zlatan Ibrahimović suffered a heel injury on February 24, 2015.
On 11 March 2015, Ibrahimović received a straight red card in a Champions League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for a foul on Oscar, but PSG qualified for the quarter-finals on away goals.
On 8 April 2015, Ibrahimović scored a hat-trick as PSG reached the 2015 Coupe de France Final with a 4–1 win over Saint-Étienne, including his 100th goal for the club.
Zlatan Ibrahimović faced suspension on April 14, 2015.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended on May 14, 2015.
Zlatan Ibrahimović suffered a calf injury on August 28, 2015.
On 4 October 2015, Ibrahimović scored two goals from penalty kicks in a 2–1 home win over Marseille, surpassing Pauleta to become Paris Saint-Germain's all-time leading goalscorer with 110 goals in all official competitions.
During an interview with CNN on 24 November 2015, Ibrahimović emphasized that his Muslim background did not affect how fans perceived him. He highlighted the importance of respect and his upbringing in shaping his identity.
On 25 November 2015, Ibrahimović captained PSG in a match against Malmö FF in the Champions League group stage, scoring a goal in a 5–0 win that secured PSG's qualification to the knockout stage.
In a 3–0 win over Nice on 4 December 2015, Ibrahimović scored twice, breaking Mustapha Dahleb's record to become Paris Saint-Germain's all-time top goalscorer in the French first division.
In the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg against Chelsea on 16 February 2016, Ibrahimović scored a free kick goal to help PSG win 2–1, marking his 116th appearance in the Champions League and entering the competition's all-time top ten appearance makers.
On 9 March 2016, Ibrahimović assisted a goal and scored the winning goal in PSG's Champions League match against Chelsea, progressing to the quarter-final stage. He also became the 14th player to score 50 or more goals in UEFA club competitions.
Four days later, on 13 March 2016, Ibrahimović scored four goals in a 9–0 win against Troyes, securing PSG's league title with his 100th league goal and achieving the fastest hat-trick in Ligue 1 history.
On 16 April 2016, Ibrahimović scored twice in a 6–0 win against Caen, reaching a season-best 32 goals in the league and equaling his previous season-best with two games less played.
On 8 May 2016, Ibrahimović was named UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the third consecutive year, recognizing his outstanding performance in the league.
On May 14, 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović made his final Ligue 1 appearance for PSG against Nantes, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory. This match also marked him becoming Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer in a single Ligue 1 season with 38 goals.
On May 21, 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović scored twice and set up a goal in the 2016 Coupe de France Final, helping PSG defeat Marseille 4–2. This victory contributed to PSG winning the Ligue 1-Coupe de France-Coupe de la Ligue domestic treble for the second consecutive season.
On 21 June 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović announced his retirement from international football immediately after Sweden's last match at Euro 2016. Despite captaining the team and playing every minute of the group matches, Ibrahimović did not score any goals during the tournament.
On June 30, 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic officially signed for Manchester United, announcing it on his social media. He made his debut on August 7, 2016, scoring his first goal in the Community Shield match against Leicester City, helping his team win 2-1.
On July 1, 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović signed as a free agent for Manchester United on a one-year contract with the option of extension. His reported salary was £200,000 per week.
Ibrahimović scored the match-winning goal for Manchester United in the 2016 FA Community Shield, securing a 2–1 victory against Leicester City.
In his Premier League debut, Ibrahimović scored with a long-range strike in a 3–1 away win at AFC Bournemouth on the opening day.
Ibrahimović scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Southampton on his home debut for Manchester United, with a header in the first half and a penalty in the second.
Ibrahimović scored twice in a 3–1 away win against Swansea City, with his first goal being the 25,000th goal in Premier League history.
Ibrahimović scored his 15th league goal of the season and 20th in all competitions in a 3–0 away win against Leicester City, becoming the oldest player to achieve this feat at the age of 35 years and 125 days.
Ibrahimović registered his first Manchester United hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Saint-Étienne in the Europa League Round of 32.
Ibrahimović scored two goals, a free-kick and a header (the winning goal), in the 2017 EFL Cup Final to secure United's fifth League Cup and his second trophy with the club.
Ibrahimović was included in the six player shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year.
Ibrahimović sustained serious ligament damage in his right knee during a Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht, which was reported to sideline him until at least the end of the 2016–17 season.
Manchester United won the Europa League Final against Ajax, securing Ibrahimović's first major European title. He was also named in the UEFA Europa League squad of the season.
It was announced that Manchester United would release Ibrahimović at the end of his contract on 30 June 2017, but later confirmed talks to re-sign him for the latter half of the 2017–18 Premier League season.
On August 24, 2017, Ibrahimović signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United and was set to wear number 10 for his second season with the team.
On November 18, 2017, Ibrahimović made his return for Manchester United, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 home win against Newcastle United.
On December 20, 2017, Ibrahimović scored his first goal of the season for Manchester United with a free-kick in a 2–1 loss against Bristol City in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup.
On March 22, 2018, Manchester United announced the termination of Ibrahimović's contract.
On March 23, 2018, Ibrahimović signed for Major League Soccer (MLS) club LA Galaxy and welcomed Los Angeles with a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times.
On March 31, 2018, Ibrahimović made his debut for LA Galaxy against Los Angeles FC, scoring twice including a remarkable 45-yard half volley and a header in stoppage time.
On May 30, 2018, Ibrahimović criticized LA Galaxy's performance after a 3–2 defeat to FC Dallas, emphasizing the need for improvement and a more proactive approach.
On 15 September 2018, Ibrahimović scored his 500th professional career goal for club and country with an acrobatic strike in a 5–3 away defeat against Toronto FC. He humorously stated that Toronto FC would be remembered as his 500th victim.
On March 31, 2019, Zlatan Ibrahimović became the Swedish player with the most goals in football history after scoring over 515 career goals.
On 20 July 2019, Ibrahimović scored a perfect hat-trick against Los Angeles FC, leading the Galaxy to a 3–2 victory. This performance sparked a debate on his status as the best player in MLS.
On 15 September 2019, Ibrahimović scored his second hat-trick of the season in a 7–2 win against Sporting Kansas City. This brought his tally for 2019 to 26 goals, breaking the club record for most goals scored in a single regular season.
On 8 October 2019, a statue of Ibrahimović was revealed in his hometown, outside Malmö's Stadion. The statue, standing at 2.7 meters tall and weighing almost 500 kg, was created by Peter Linde.
On 24 October 2019, despite Ibrahimović recording a goal and an assist, LA Galaxy were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs after a 5–3 away defeat against Los Angeles FC.
On 13 November 2019, Ibrahimović announced his departure from LA Galaxy through his Twitter account, thanking the fans and humorously stating, 'You wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. The story continues...Now go back to watch baseball'.
On 27 November 2019, Ibrahimović bought 23.5 percent of the shares in Hammarby IF, a Swedish top-flight club from Stockholm. The seller was Anschutz Entertainment Group, and the purchase led to controversy among fans of Malmö FF.
On December 27, 2019, Ibrahimović returned to AC Milan on a free transfer for a six-month contract with the option to extend. He made his first appearance on January 6, 2020, and scored his first goal on January 11, marking a milestone by scoring in four different decades.
On January 2, 2020, a transfer took place for the 2019-2020 season.
On February 9, 2020, Ibrahimović assisted a goal and scored another for Milan, becoming the oldest goalscorer in the Derby della Madonnina at the age of 38 years and 129 days, breaking the previous record.
On July 15, 2020, Ibrahimović made his 100th appearance for AC Milan, including his previous stint, in a home league win over Parma.
On July 29, 2020, Ibrahimović became the first player to score 50 Serie A goals for both Milan clubs with a brace in a win over Sampdoria.
On August 1, 2020, Ibrahimović scored a goal in a win over Cagliari, becoming the oldest player to score at least ten goals in a Serie A season since the 1950s.
On August 31, 2020, Ibrahimović extended his contract with AC Milan until the summer of 2021.
On September 17, 2020, Ibrahimović scored Milan's first goal of the 2020–21 season in a win over Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League.
On October 17, 2020, Ibrahimović scored twice in the Derby della Madonnina as Milan defeated Inter 2–1.
On October 26, 2020, Ibrahimović scored his third consecutive brace in the league in a draw against Roma.
On November 22, 2020, Ibrahimović scored twice in a win over Napoli, marking his eighth consecutive league appearance with at least one goal.
Ibrahimović made his return to the side from injury on 9 January 2021, playing the final five minutes of Milan's 2–0 win against Torino.
On 18 January, Ibrahimović scored both of his side's goals in their 2–0 victory over Cagliari, helping Milan maintain their lead at the top of the league table.
During Milan's Coppa Italia quarter-final match against Inter, Ibrahimović clashed with former teammate Romelu Lukaku, resulting in a heated exchange of insults and Ibrahimović being sent off.
In a 4–0 win over Crotone on 7 February, Ibrahimović scored two goals, reaching a milestone of 500 and 501 total club career goals.
During a Europa League match between Red Star Belgrade and Milan, Ibrahimović was subjected to racism by Red Star fans, with insults including an ethnic slur. Despite the match being played behind closed doors, a few spectators were allowed in a VIP box. Red Star Belgrade apologized, but UEFA still opened an investigation resulting in a fine and a closed-door game penalty.
On 15 March 2021, Ibrahimović was included in the Sweden squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, marking his comeback almost five years after his initial retirement. He made history as the oldest man to play for Sweden's national team.
On 22 April, Ibrahimović signed a new contract extension with Milan, committing to stay at the club for another season.
During Milan's 3–0 victory at Juventus on 9 May, Ibrahimović had to be substituted off in the second half due to a left knee injury, which ended his season prematurely.
Days before Sweden announced their UEFA Euro 2020 squad, Ibrahimović was confirmed to be excluded due to a knee injury. He later appeared as a substitute in Sweden's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off final.
On 12 September 2021, Ibrahimović, at the age of 39 years and 344 days, scored a goal for Milan in a 2–0 win over Lazio, becoming the oldest non-Italian player to score in Serie A.
On 20 November, Ibrahimović scored two goals in a 4–3 loss to Fiorentina, becoming the oldest player to score a brace in a Serie A game and the first 40-year-old player to net a brace in Europe's top five leagues in the 21st century.
On 11 December, Ibrahimović scored an acrobatic equaliser in stoppage-time in a 1–1 draw with Udinese, reaching the milestone of 300 career league goals across Europe's top five leagues, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to achieve this in the 21st century.
On 24 April 2022, Ibrahimović set up Tonali's 90th minute winner against Lazio, helping Milan take top spot in the league table.
On 22 May, Milan won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years, with Ibrahimović contributing eight goals and three assists during the campaign. It was his 5th Serie A title, and he dedicated the win to his late agent, Mino Raiola.
On 26 February 2023, Ibrahimović returned to first-team action after nine months, playing in a 2–0 victory over Atalanta for Milan.
Andersson announced Ibrahimović's return to the Sweden squad after a one-year absence for their European Championship qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan. He was initially hailed as the oldest player in a European Championship qualifier, but the record was later corrected.
On 18 March, Ibrahimović became the oldest goalscorer in Serie A at the age of 41 years and 166 days when he scored in a 3–1 defeat to Udinese.
On 4 June, Ibrahimović announced his retirement from football following AC Milan's final game of the Serie A season.
Zlatan Ibrahimović officially retired from professional football on July 1, 2023.
On 11 December 2023, RedBird Capital Partners announced the hiring of Ibrahimović as a new senior adviser to AC Milan. Despite not being officially part of AC Milan's managerial staff, Ibrahimović was deeply involved in the club's internal organizational matters.